After Movie’s Kickstarter Success, Veronica Mars to Get Spinoff Web Series

Image credit: Warner Bros. Television

The phenomenal success of last year’s Veronica Mars movie Kickstarter campaign, which earned $5.7 million, proved that the Internet really loves that show — and it appears that the feeling is mutual. In addition to the upcoming crowdfunded Veronica Mars movie, the show about a once-teenaged but now grownup sleuth played by Kristen Bell will receive its own spinoff web series for the CW’s online channel CW Seed.

CW president Mark Pedowitz broke the news at the Television Critics Association Press Tour, saying that the network was pitched the idea by Warner Bros. Digital and Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas, and is likely to consist of six to eight episodes, each lasting around 10 minutes or so.

Talks about the project apparently only started a week ago, so it’s too early for cast details or, indeed, any other information for the show to be announced. Showrunner and creator Rob Thomas in particular has a lot on his plate; in addition to promotion for March’s release of the Veronica movie, he’s also adapting DC/Vertigo comic book series iZombie as a pilot for the CW.

“He told me about his schedule, and I said, ‘We’ll take it whenever you’re ready,” Pedowitz said of Thomas’ involvement in the project. The creator is “very excited about doing this for CW Seed. It may not appear before the film comes out.”

Nonetheless, Pedowitz said that he had “great faith in Rob that he will deliver something fantastic and, should it ever turn into a TV series again, hopefully he’ll think about us.” Wait — is there really a possibility of more Veronica Mars on TV as well? Between the movie, the web series, the upcoming novel series and a potential return to television, 2014 seems to be turning into a surprise Year of Mars. Not bad for a show that got canceled seven years ago.